Tagged: Various Artists

Various Artists – Destroy That Boy! More Girls With Guitars

destroy-that-boy-cdI am no aficionado on all things swinging 60′s.   But I know what I like.   And these past few years I have been devouring re-issue compilations on the fabulous Ace Records. This collection is the follow up to 2004′s ‘Girls With Guitars’ and the focus is again on all-girl bands of the 60′s. They seem to be able to gather up a heady mix of expected hits and long forgotten treasures.On this 24 track CD we are treated to more of the rarer moments from the period in question.

Picking highlights is like picking your favourite sweets in a sweet shop – you simply can’t do it.   Is it the mighty fine version of ‘Shakin’ All Over’ by Raylene & The Blue Angels?  or is it ‘I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy’ by The What Four?  or could it be the organ friendly ‘He’s About A Mover’ by The Liverbirds?   I simply can not choose.  As with all compilations there are always likely to be a few misses – but as always with Ace these are kept to a bare minimum.   This is another mighty fine Ace release.

Link: Ace Records

Various Artists – Gone to see the birds and trees

Let me start this post with a quote straight from the Doot Doot Recordings My Space page:

More a collective than a label, Doot Doot was started 5 years ago as a form of making 5 copies of the first EP by The New Nathan Detroits. Since then, more people have started to use the moniker for use on their own releases turning it into a brand of sorts. Our latest releases are Ewan D. Rodgers’ “From Hull, Halifax and Hell” and “Gone To See The Birds and Trees – Another Doot Doot Compilation”

In case you’re wondering fact fans, the name is a reference to the comic book “Goodbye Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson.

The first release that I became aware of was the LP ‘SOAP’ by The Wednesday Club.   A curious beast of a record – with 22 songs – it sprawls and challenges occasionally hitting some lofty heights but failing to hit them often enough to be more than a curious listen.  Some great moments in amongst the songs for sure but not an LP I would be playing on heavy rotation.

I was given a copy of DD019 this past week and this is a 28 track double cd release featuring The Medusa Snare,  The Chemistry Experiment, Down Dime, The Rocky Nest, David Broad and countless others.   ‘Gone to see the Birds and Trees’ is an ecclectic mix of songs that throws up some really nice surprises from the acapella(?) pop thrills of ‘Winter Light’ by Beth Atkinson to the downright odd ‘Pwn of Doom’ by Nir(vana) which sounds like an early Ween out-take to these probably misinformed ears.  This is a charming compilation that has enough keepers spread across the two CDs to make it a worthwhile purchase.   But as far as I can see you can’t buy these releases.   They seem to be given away free from the Doot Doot Recordings page. So are you going to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Link: Doot Doot Recordings